DHS girls tennis gets an education on the Western Slope

Durango got a runner-up and a lot of lessons at the Western Slope Open this weekend.

Jamie Wanzek, the Durango High School girls tennis team’s No. 2 singles player, took the runner-up spot in her bracket after she beat Montrose 10-6, then lost to Denver East 7-5 on Saturday at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.

“One of the Denver East coaches ran out to the court in front of me and said something like ‘I want to get to your player first. She had such a great match; I just love her spirit,’” DHS first-year head coach Laura Ehlers said.

No. 1 singles Erin Neale lost to Montrose in a 7-5 tiebreaker after playing to a 9-all tie.